Ready Steady Read Together
A Whale of a Time: Poetry Lesson 4
What do you think you know?
What?
Who?
Why?
Where?
How?
When?
Book Talk: Let's explore this illustration.
Explore
What do you know and think?
…and he carried on humming his quiet hum till his mother grew quite wild…
How might this extract link to the illustration?
Explore
From: A Whale of a Time by Lou Peacock © 2023. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Today's Question(s)
A) What things does Horace’s mum tell him he should do like a monster?
B) What did Horace’s mum do when he hatched?
C) What food does Horace say he would rather eat?
D) What does Horace do instead of roaring at the end of the poem?
Explore
Let me read today's text
Explore
HORACE THE HORRID
The day that baby Horace hatched
his proud mum gave a ROAR,
then stomped around to show him off
to her monster friends next door.
She named him HORACE THE HORRID–
she was sure he’d be quite a lad–
but soon it was clear, to her horror,
that Horace just wasn’t bad.
You’re supposed to EAT children, Horace,
not ask them out to play!
You’re HORACE THE HORRID, Horace,
PLEASE put that teddy away!
Those feet are for kicking, Horace;
don't hide your claws under the mat!
That playpen’s your BREAKFAST, Horace,
you're a MONSTER, remember that!
I’m sorry, said Horace, bowing his head. I’m sorry to be such a bore,
but I’d rather eat carrots than children
and I really don't know how to roar. And he carried on humming his quiet hum
till his mother grew quite wild,
but Horace the Horrid just opened his mouth
and smiled and smiled and smiled.
He opened his gummy, grinny mouth
and smiled
and smiled
and smiled.
Judith Nicholls
From: A Whale of a Time by Lou Peacock © 2023. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Vocabulary
Explore
Hover for definitions!
stomped around
bowing his head
horror
bore
humming his quiet hum
gummy, grinny mouth
Explore
From: A Whale of a Time by Lou Peacock © 2023. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
I will model the first.
Find the word or phrase Read the sentence Talk about it to a partner
stomped around
Explore
Find Read Talk
The day that baby Horace hatched his proud mum gave a ROAR, then stomped around to show him off to her monster friends next door. She named him HORACE THE HORRID– she was sure he’d be quite a lad– but soon it was clear, to her horror, that Horace just wasn’t bad.
Reveal Vocabulary
From: A Whale of a Time by Lou Peacock © 2023. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Your turn
stomped around
horror
Find the word or phrase Read the sentence Talk about it to a partner
bowing his head
bore
humming his quiet hum
gummy, grinny mouth
Use your text
Explore
Vocabulary Check & Re-read
Explore
HORACE THE HORRID
Reveal Vocabulary
The day that baby Horace hatched
his proud mum gave a ROAR,
then stomped around to show him off
to her monster friends next door.
She named him HORACE THE HORRID–
she was sure he’d be quite a lad–
but soon it was clear, to her horror,
that Horace just wasn’t bad.
You’re supposed to EAT children, Horace,
not ask them out to play!
You’re HORACE THE HORRID, Horace,
PLEASE put that teddy away!
Those feet are for kicking, Horace;
don't hide your claws under the mat!
That playpen’s your BREAKFAST, Horace,
you're a MONSTER, remember that!
I’m sorry, said Horace, bowing his head. I’m sorry to be such a bore,
but I’d rather eat carrots than children
and I really don't know how to roar. And he carried on humming his quiet hum
till his mother grew quite wild,
but Horace the Horrid just opened his mouth
and smiled and smiled and smiled.
He opened his gummy, grinny mouth
and smiled
and smiled
and smiled.
Judith Nicholls
Explore
From: A Whale of a Time by Lou Peacock © 2023. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Fluency
Explore
Let me use my reader's voice...
Those feet are for kicking, Horace;
don't hide your claws under the mat!
That playpen’s your BREAKFAST, Horace,
you're a MONSTER, remember that!
I'm sorry, said Horace, bowing his head.
I'm sorry to be such a bore,
but I'd rather eat carrots than children
and I really don't know how to roar.
What did you notice?
Volume
Pace
Smoothness
Phrasing
Expression
Explore
From: A Whale of a Time by Lou Peacock © 2023. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
My Turn
Your Turn
Echo Read
Those feet are for kicking, Horace;
don't hide your claws under the mat!
That playpen’s your BREAKFAST, Horace,
you're a MONSTER, remember that!
I'm sorry, said Horace, bowing his head.
I'm sorry to be such a bore,
but I'd rather eat carrots than children
and I really don't know how to roar.
Explore
From: A Whale of a Time by Lou Peacock © 2023. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Sound like a reader!
Stand up!
Choral Read
Those feet are for kicking, Horace;
don't hide your claws under the mat!
That playpen’s your BREAKFAST, Horace,
you're a MONSTER, remember that!
I'm sorry, said Horace, bowing his head.
I'm sorry to be such a bore,
but I'd rather eat carrots than children
and I really don't know how to roar.
Explore
From: A Whale of a Time by Lou Peacock © 2023. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Strategy Focus
Explore
Strategy: Look Around & Find and Take
Be a word thief and steal what you've been asked to find...
A) What things does Horace’s mum tell him he should do like a monster?
What's the question asking? Now, what are you looking for?
Let me show you
Reveal Text Marks
You’re supposed to EAT children, Horace, not ask them out to play! You’re HORACE THE HORRID, Horace, PLEASE put that teddy away!
A) What things does Horace’s mum tell him he should do like a monster?
Reveal Explainer
I will 'look around' the poem carefully to 'find and take' the answer. I notice Horace’s mum tells him things he should do as a monster. She says “you’re supposed to EAT children, Horace”, which shows she expects him to act like a scary, typical monster.
Teach
From: A Whale of a Time by Lou Peacock © 2023. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Strategy Stop
What else could you use to answer today's question(s)?
Teach
Your Turn
A) What things does Horace’s mum tell him he should do like a monster?
B) What did Horace’s mum do when he hatched?
C) What food does Horace say he would rather eat?
D) What does Horace do instead of roaring at the end of the poem?
Find the answers
Text mark
Explore
Acceptable Answers
Text Mark Evidence - his proud mum gave a ROAR - I really don’t know how to roar
roar
A) What things does Horace’s mum tell him he should do like a monster?
Text Mark Evidence those feet are for kicking
kick with his feet
Text Mark Evidence don’t hide your claws under the mat
use / show off his claws
Text Mark Evidence that playpen’s your BREAKFAST
eat the playpen
Click on the evidence to reveal acceptable answers
Text Mark Evidence you’re a MONSTER, remember that!
behave like a scary monster
Practise & Apply
Acceptable Answers
Text Mark Evidence his proud mum gave a ROAR
she gave a roar
B) What did Horace’s mum do when he hatched?
Text Mark Evidence then stomped around
she stomped around
Text Mark Evidence to show him of
she showed him off
Click on the evidence to reveal acceptable answers
Text Mark Evidence to her monster friends next door
she introduced him to her monster friends
Practise & Apply
Acceptable Answers
C) What food does Horace say he would rather eat?
Click to reveal...
Text Mark Evidence carrots
Click on the evidence to reveal acceptable answers
Practise & Apply
Acceptable Answers
D) What does Horace do instead of roaring at the end of the poem?
Text Mark Evidence just opened his mouth and smiled and smiled and smiled
he opens his mouth and smiles
Click on the evidence to reveal acceptable answers
Practise & Apply
Quiz Time
Start
Picture Me
Which image is the best match for ‘stomped around’?
Tick Me
How is Horace different from what his mum expects?
Tick one:
A) He is scarier than she thought.
B) He is kinder than she expected.
Check
C) He is louder than other monsters.
Click if correct
D) He is bigger than other monsters.
Find Me
Find the word that shows Horace’s mum is angry:
And he carried on humming his quiet hum
till his mother grew quite wild,
but Horace the Horrid just opened his mouth
and smiled and smiled and smiled.
Discuss then check
wild
Fill the Gaps
horror
hatched
stomped
The day that baby Horace
his proud mum gave a ROAR,
then around to show him off
to her monster friends next door.
She named him HORACE THE HORRID–
She was sure he'd be quite a lad–
but soon it was clear, to her ,
that Horace just wasn't bad.
Click if correct
Discuss then check
Feedback: Who did what well?
FindRead Talk
EchoRead
ChoralRead
ReadingStrategy
Answers & Text Marks
Other...
To be a book lover, you could...
turn poems into songs.
Reveal
Many poems have rhythms that work as songs.
Copyright Notice
This document has been supplied under a CLA Licence with specific terms of use. It is protected by copyright and, save as may be permitted by law, it may not be further copied, stored, re-copied electronically or otherwise shared, even for internal purposes, without the prior further permission of the Rightsholder. Extracts sourced from: A Whale of a Time by Lou Peacock © 2023 Schools must purchase the original text for full content.
hatched
stomped
horror
RSRT Y3 L4 A Whale of a Time
Literacy Counts
Created on February 7, 2026
Start designing with a free template
Discover more than 1500 professional designs like these:
View
Essential Business Proposal
View
Project Roadmap Timeline
View
Step-by-Step Timeline: How to Develop an Idea
View
Artificial Intelligence History Timeline
View
Mind Map: The 4 Pillars of Success
View
Big Data: The Data That Drives the World
View
Momentum: Onboarding Presentation
Explore all templates
Transcript
Ready Steady Read Together
A Whale of a Time: Poetry Lesson 4
What do you think you know?
What?
Who?
Why?
Where?
How?
When?
Book Talk: Let's explore this illustration.
Explore
What do you know and think?
…and he carried on humming his quiet hum till his mother grew quite wild…
How might this extract link to the illustration?
Explore
From: A Whale of a Time by Lou Peacock © 2023. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Today's Question(s)
A) What things does Horace’s mum tell him he should do like a monster?
B) What did Horace’s mum do when he hatched?
C) What food does Horace say he would rather eat?
D) What does Horace do instead of roaring at the end of the poem?
Explore
Let me read today's text
Explore
HORACE THE HORRID
The day that baby Horace hatched his proud mum gave a ROAR, then stomped around to show him off to her monster friends next door. She named him HORACE THE HORRID– she was sure he’d be quite a lad– but soon it was clear, to her horror, that Horace just wasn’t bad. You’re supposed to EAT children, Horace, not ask them out to play! You’re HORACE THE HORRID, Horace, PLEASE put that teddy away! Those feet are for kicking, Horace; don't hide your claws under the mat! That playpen’s your BREAKFAST, Horace, you're a MONSTER, remember that!
I’m sorry, said Horace, bowing his head. I’m sorry to be such a bore, but I’d rather eat carrots than children and I really don't know how to roar. And he carried on humming his quiet hum till his mother grew quite wild, but Horace the Horrid just opened his mouth and smiled and smiled and smiled. He opened his gummy, grinny mouth and smiled and smiled and smiled.
Judith Nicholls
From: A Whale of a Time by Lou Peacock © 2023. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Vocabulary
Explore
Hover for definitions!
stomped around
bowing his head
horror
bore
humming his quiet hum
gummy, grinny mouth
Explore
From: A Whale of a Time by Lou Peacock © 2023. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
I will model the first.
Find the word or phrase Read the sentence Talk about it to a partner
stomped around
Explore
Find Read Talk
The day that baby Horace hatched his proud mum gave a ROAR, then stomped around to show him off to her monster friends next door. She named him HORACE THE HORRID– she was sure he’d be quite a lad– but soon it was clear, to her horror, that Horace just wasn’t bad.
Reveal Vocabulary
From: A Whale of a Time by Lou Peacock © 2023. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Your turn
stomped around
horror
Find the word or phrase Read the sentence Talk about it to a partner
bowing his head
bore
humming his quiet hum
gummy, grinny mouth
Use your text
Explore
Vocabulary Check & Re-read
Explore
HORACE THE HORRID
Reveal Vocabulary
The day that baby Horace hatched his proud mum gave a ROAR, then stomped around to show him off to her monster friends next door. She named him HORACE THE HORRID– she was sure he’d be quite a lad– but soon it was clear, to her horror, that Horace just wasn’t bad. You’re supposed to EAT children, Horace, not ask them out to play! You’re HORACE THE HORRID, Horace, PLEASE put that teddy away! Those feet are for kicking, Horace; don't hide your claws under the mat! That playpen’s your BREAKFAST, Horace, you're a MONSTER, remember that!
I’m sorry, said Horace, bowing his head. I’m sorry to be such a bore, but I’d rather eat carrots than children and I really don't know how to roar. And he carried on humming his quiet hum till his mother grew quite wild, but Horace the Horrid just opened his mouth and smiled and smiled and smiled. He opened his gummy, grinny mouth and smiled and smiled and smiled.
Judith Nicholls
Explore
From: A Whale of a Time by Lou Peacock © 2023. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Fluency
Explore
Let me use my reader's voice...
Those feet are for kicking, Horace; don't hide your claws under the mat! That playpen’s your BREAKFAST, Horace, you're a MONSTER, remember that! I'm sorry, said Horace, bowing his head. I'm sorry to be such a bore, but I'd rather eat carrots than children and I really don't know how to roar.
What did you notice?
Volume
Pace
Smoothness
Phrasing
Expression
Explore
From: A Whale of a Time by Lou Peacock © 2023. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
My Turn
Your Turn
Echo Read
Those feet are for kicking, Horace; don't hide your claws under the mat!
That playpen’s your BREAKFAST, Horace, you're a MONSTER, remember that!
I'm sorry, said Horace, bowing his head. I'm sorry to be such a bore,
but I'd rather eat carrots than children and I really don't know how to roar.
Explore
From: A Whale of a Time by Lou Peacock © 2023. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Sound like a reader!
Stand up!
Choral Read
Those feet are for kicking, Horace; don't hide your claws under the mat! That playpen’s your BREAKFAST, Horace, you're a MONSTER, remember that! I'm sorry, said Horace, bowing his head. I'm sorry to be such a bore, but I'd rather eat carrots than children and I really don't know how to roar.
Explore
From: A Whale of a Time by Lou Peacock © 2023. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Strategy Focus
Explore
Strategy: Look Around & Find and Take
Be a word thief and steal what you've been asked to find...
A) What things does Horace’s mum tell him he should do like a monster?
What's the question asking? Now, what are you looking for?
Let me show you
Reveal Text Marks
You’re supposed to EAT children, Horace, not ask them out to play! You’re HORACE THE HORRID, Horace, PLEASE put that teddy away!
A) What things does Horace’s mum tell him he should do like a monster?
Reveal Explainer
I will 'look around' the poem carefully to 'find and take' the answer. I notice Horace’s mum tells him things he should do as a monster. She says “you’re supposed to EAT children, Horace”, which shows she expects him to act like a scary, typical monster.
Teach
From: A Whale of a Time by Lou Peacock © 2023. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Strategy Stop
What else could you use to answer today's question(s)?
Teach
Your Turn
A) What things does Horace’s mum tell him he should do like a monster?
B) What did Horace’s mum do when he hatched?
C) What food does Horace say he would rather eat?
D) What does Horace do instead of roaring at the end of the poem?
Find the answers
Text mark
Explore
Acceptable Answers
Text Mark Evidence - his proud mum gave a ROAR - I really don’t know how to roar
roar
A) What things does Horace’s mum tell him he should do like a monster?
Text Mark Evidence those feet are for kicking
kick with his feet
Text Mark Evidence don’t hide your claws under the mat
use / show off his claws
Text Mark Evidence that playpen’s your BREAKFAST
eat the playpen
Click on the evidence to reveal acceptable answers
Text Mark Evidence you’re a MONSTER, remember that!
behave like a scary monster
Practise & Apply
Acceptable Answers
Text Mark Evidence his proud mum gave a ROAR
she gave a roar
B) What did Horace’s mum do when he hatched?
Text Mark Evidence then stomped around
she stomped around
Text Mark Evidence to show him of
she showed him off
Click on the evidence to reveal acceptable answers
Text Mark Evidence to her monster friends next door
she introduced him to her monster friends
Practise & Apply
Acceptable Answers
C) What food does Horace say he would rather eat?
Click to reveal...
Text Mark Evidence carrots
Click on the evidence to reveal acceptable answers
Practise & Apply
Acceptable Answers
D) What does Horace do instead of roaring at the end of the poem?
Text Mark Evidence just opened his mouth and smiled and smiled and smiled
he opens his mouth and smiles
Click on the evidence to reveal acceptable answers
Practise & Apply
Quiz Time
Start
Picture Me
Which image is the best match for ‘stomped around’?
Tick Me
How is Horace different from what his mum expects?
Tick one:
A) He is scarier than she thought.
B) He is kinder than she expected.
Check
C) He is louder than other monsters.
Click if correct
D) He is bigger than other monsters.
Find Me
Find the word that shows Horace’s mum is angry:
And he carried on humming his quiet hum till his mother grew quite wild, but Horace the Horrid just opened his mouth and smiled and smiled and smiled.
Discuss then check
wild
Fill the Gaps
horror
hatched
stomped
The day that baby Horace his proud mum gave a ROAR, then around to show him off to her monster friends next door. She named him HORACE THE HORRID– She was sure he'd be quite a lad– but soon it was clear, to her , that Horace just wasn't bad.
Click if correct
Discuss then check
Feedback: Who did what well?
FindRead Talk
EchoRead
ChoralRead
ReadingStrategy
Answers & Text Marks
Other...
To be a book lover, you could...
turn poems into songs.
Reveal
Many poems have rhythms that work as songs.
Copyright Notice
This document has been supplied under a CLA Licence with specific terms of use. It is protected by copyright and, save as may be permitted by law, it may not be further copied, stored, re-copied electronically or otherwise shared, even for internal purposes, without the prior further permission of the Rightsholder. Extracts sourced from: A Whale of a Time by Lou Peacock © 2023 Schools must purchase the original text for full content.
hatched
stomped
horror